Leigh Halfpenny - Rugby World Interview

12 January 2009 14:06pm

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Leigh Halfpenny talks exclusively to Rugby World.

Such is the back-three talent at Cardiff Blues that at the start of this season Leigh Halfpenny thought he would struggle to get into their team, let alone the national side. As well as Ben Blair, Tom James, Gareth Thomas and Chris Czekaj, two of the Blues' three summer recruits were wingers - Richard Mustoe and Aled Brew. Still, six regional games - and seven tries - later, the 19-year-old found himself facing the world champions - and marking Bryan Habana - in Wales' opening match of the autumn against South Africa.

Halfpenny didn't exactly ease himself into his first Test, getting stuck in with an early tackle on No 8 Pierre Spies and putting in several more key hits during the 80 minutes. He troubled the Boks defence a few times with the ball in hand and even slotted a penalty. Wales lost 20-15 - his first defeat as a professional - but it was still a momentous afternoon for the youngster. "It was everything I expected and more," he says. "It's what I've dreamed of, running out with the Welsh jersey on, singing the anthem, and there's no better team to play than the world champions."

Before this season, full-back would have been Halfpenny's favoured position. But during the U20s World Championship in June he featured on the wing, as he has in most of his games for the Blues, so he's now more comfortable in the position. In fact, he thinks it was easier to make his Test debut on the

wing than in the No 15 shirt. "They say winger and full-back are similar positions, but there's a lot more

decision-making for a full-back than a wing. To get your first cap on the wing gives you a chance to get confidence from the game. When I was growing up I preferred full-back, but since the World Cup I've played a lot of games on the wing and I'm more confident. It means I can play two positions, which

is great."

In June, Halfpenny thought he'd spend most of his time in this campaign playing for Cardiff in the Welsh Premiership, as he had the previous season, not running out at the Millennium Stadium for a Test. "I remember being interviewed after the World Cup and someone saying there were seven wingers at the Blues and I seemed to be at the end of the line," he says. "I tried my best at the World Cup, but I thought I'd be with Cardiff for a lot of the season, with the odd game here or there when the boys went away for the autumn Internationals and the Six Nations. In the summer I thought it would be two or three years before I got to play for Wales again. A lot's changed - it's all happened so quick."

Just five games were enough for Wales coach Warren Gatland to spot Halfpenny's potential and pick him for the autumn series, then Mark Jones's knee injury opened the door into the first XV. His ability to beat a man with his footwork and pace has earned him comparisons with Shane Williams. He also has a decent kicking game, can goalkick and is no pushover in defence.

His style of play has excited the Welsh supporters and he even has his own personal fan club. Fifty people from his first club Gorseinon, where he spent ten years, came down to Cardiff for the Gloucester game at the Millennium Stadium and the same number managed to get tickets for the South Africa match once he was selected. As for the game with Canada, when he won his second cap, four packed 50-seater coaches headed to Cardiff. "It's unbelievable - I've had great support from my friends and family, and the club I've grown up with. If I'm free on a Saturday I still go down to watch them."

The youngster rewarded his followers by scoring twice against Canada. For the first try, he showed great skill to avoid being tackled into touch, threw a dummy then drove over with the help of Tom Shanklin. Next, a good support line allowed Dwayne Peel to pop the ball out after Jamie Roberts's break and Halfpenny scored under the posts.

Halfpenny is an intelligent player who looks for space. If fielding a kick deep in his own half, he won't automatically punt the ball back downfield; if he thinks it's on he'll go for it - another trait that has seen him likened to Williams. "On the wing you don't get the ball as much as inside players, so when you do get a chance you want to do as much as you can. If that means creating space for someone else then great. I like to use my own ability to beat a player, go as far as I can and hopefully get over the whitewash. That's just how I think."

Halfpenny speaks so softly you have to lean in to pick up his words, but he's an engaging individual and one who has thought about his life after rugby. He moved from the Ospreys to the Blues Academy last season because he wanted to study dentistry at Cardiff University and the travelling from Swansea would have been too much. It didn't go exactly to plan because he didn't get the required grade in his biology

A level, something he rectified last season when achieving an A grade.

His rugby commitments now mean he can't start the degree because you have to complete the first year full-time, but he's still planning to further his education. "It has always been medicine or dentistry for me and I've done work experience in both," he explains. "I like dentistry because you can set up your own business and work independently. I'd still like to do a degree whilst I'm playing - I might do pharmacy - then after rugby I'll possibly revert to dentistry."

Halfpenny won't be scaring patients with the sound of a drill for a few years yet, however. Instead, he'll be scaring opposite numbers with his footwork and pace on the international stage.

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